A Whole New World

Today was the day people. Today I got to go to Magic Kingdom, and experience the MAIN reason people visit Disney World. Sure, the other parks are great and Downtown Disney is awesome, but let's be real for a second. When people go to Disney World, they think of Cinderella's Castle, and all that is around it. That is Magic Kingdom. And today, ladies and gentlemen, I have officially gone.

Terror with Tara

Okay y'all. Today was such an amazing day, and even though it is late, I HAD to get home so I could write it down before crashing in bed!

First Day on Stage

Alright guys, let's talk. I didn't write on Friday because I was EXHAUSTED by the time we got home and I had an early day on Saturday. I didn't write on Saturday because when we got home last night, I just wanted food and bed; now I'm writing tonight and checking my notes from the last few nights and I hope you are ready for it.

Disney Traditions...Literally

My face all day today. Now, there is not a whole lot that I can tell you about Disney Traditions, because it is filled with trade secrets, but I can tell you about my feelings, my emotions, and the exciting things that happened to me! Which is why you are reading anyway, I'm guessing. 

Up, bright eyed and bushy haired (until I tamed the mane with my straightener) at 6am, my roommate and I caught the Traditions bus around 7am. The bus ride to Disney University (Yeah, that's a thing) was rather quick, and I was surprisingly awake and excited the entire time. I'm not going to lie, I felt like I was five-years-old the entire time I was there. I got to listen to stories from people who felt the magic at Disney World when they visited, I got to watch informative videos about the company's beginnings and the impact that Disney has had on its workers. I know that in most company policies, employees sign a waiver saying they will not talk badly about the company they are working for on social media or other outlets, but there is something about the way that the employees at Disney talk about working for the company, something about the way they act and share their Disney stories that make me feel they genuinely love this company. But really, what's not to love? It's DISNEY for goodness sakes. 

So part of the day was getting to walk, quickly, around the Magic Kingdom. Now, a lot of people might not think it was as big of a deal as I did, but, luckily, I was surrounded by people who were just as excited for my first Disney World experience as I was. Actually, I met a girl who goes to Eastern Illinois University! Talk about awesome--well her goal was to be with someone who was experiencing the park for the first time, and we found each other so she videotaped my first view of Cinderella's Castle. When I have it, I will put it in one of my future blog posts. But I cried. Real actual big full fat tears--I wasn't sobbing but the tears were present. Did I mention I cried? OK so I'm definitely a dork, but hey, it's Disney! I also saw people who were newly engaged--like JUST happened--and I felt all of the feels. Like, I don't know what I'm going to do over the next eight months to put my feels in check because I have a feeling they will be over my emotional tolerance level for forever. Like life goals are that--I love all of the silly cliché love-y romantic things like getting engaged in Disney World, honeymooning in Disney World, loving all things Disney...OK so I might be a little crazy but oh well. Someone will love me for it. Or not. My dog loves me. At least I hope so since I have left him for 8 months. 

You know what else I got today? My own, very first set of Mickey Ears! Like OMG! I didn't get Mickey ears when I went to Disneyland, but that was because I was basically a babysitter. Not that I'm complaining. But I am so excited to get to be here for myself, and work for this company, and just pursue my new life. 

There are a lot of things that Mickey ears mean, but to me, Mickey ears just mean that I'm included in this life of Disney lovers. Like the pin-trading things. Is it weird that I want to find an adult princess dress and dress up? Ok, maybe not quite that extreme. But either way, I just have a lot of happiness about today. & guess what?

I'm official! 

Like look at that name tag. Shayna. On the Walt Disney World name tag. Officially. Do you see that? Where Dreams Come True. I hope you see that. Because I get to wear that. And I'm so in love with it. I hope all of you think I'm a crazy person, because I think I am too. There is a whole lot of things that go through my mind when I think of being here working for Disney. That every choice I've ever made has brought me to where I was today--sitting in Traditions, getting my nametag, crying as I watched about Disney's build, and getting kissed on the cheek by Mickey Mouse. Yeah, I got a cheek kiss by Mickey. Ain't I a lucky girl :) 

The emotional impact of this day made me exhausted--I even took a nap. But guess what I get to do tomorrow? Go to the park. I start my training on Saturday, so I can't exactly stay for the entire 24-hour event, but at least I still get to go. So wish me luck. Because I'll probably be more exhausted emotionally tomorrow, and even more so when I get up for my first day of training on Saturday. As always, have a magical day <3

Pinch Me, I'm Dreaming!

How many times can a girl say that she love love love love love love LOVES Disney? Because I'm probably going to say that a  million more times both in this blog post and for the duration of my CP. So today was an exceptionally exciting day for me. I got to go to....DOWNTOWN DISNEY (which will soon be called Disney Springs). All of the things I saw was absolutely amazing. I had literal tears so often as I walked around this store:

I died. Not literally because I am obviously still alive to tell you about how I died, but figuratively and emotionally I am drained. This is the father of all Disney stores. The mother of all Disney stores. The GODFATHER of ALL DISNEY STORES. It was and is so beautiful. Meet the newest member of my family, and the only member I now have with me at Disney:

Adventure is Here

Hello everybody! I know I said I would post a blog last night, but after traveling and getting to the hotel and going to the wrong airport to pick up one of my roommates (Woo Caitlyn!), I was EXHAUSTED! After we ate dinner at the hotel, we crashed so hard (well, I did not crash out immediately because I had A TON of butterflies just thinking about being at Disney!). Anyway, so today was check-in and between that and casting and getting moved in, today has been exhilarating and draining. So if you bear with me, I will talk you through how today went! 

Dreams Come True

When I was a little girl, I made very specific goals for myself. I wanted to marry a specific boy (we'll see how that goes :D), not get pregnant when I was 18 (definitely succeeded there), and graduate from a university. Of course I had other goals, but ever since I was young, these three were always top priorities, and I had a lot going against me with them.

Disney Accepted!

This is the start of my first-ever blog, and my very first blog post! So be excited, because I know I am. I am going to be blogging my internship at Walt Disney World, because the day I check-in for my internship will be the FIRST time I've EVER been to Disney World! This blog will have first-response emotions along with some genuinely confusing experiences, because I will have a lot of new things to talk about. So if you are like me and have never been to WDW, are thinking of doing the Disney College Program, are an alum of the DCP, or just LOVE Disney like I do--I hope you follow me along this magical journey I am about to embark on.